Staten--last held on 16 March 1990 (next to be held March 1994);results--percent of vote by party NA;seats--(22 total) PNP 7, FOL-SI-Curacao 3, UPB 3, MAN 2,Democratic Party of Sint Maarten 2, Democratic Party of Curacao 1,SPM-Sint Maarten 1, WIPM 1, Democratic Party of Sint Eustatius 1,Nos Patria-Curacao 1; note--the government of PrimeMinister Maria LIBERIA-PETERS is a coalition of several parties

_#_Flag: white with a horizontal blue stripe in the centersuperimposed on a vertical red band also centered; five whitefive-pointed stars are arranged in an oval pattern in the center of theblue band; the five stars represent the five main islands of Bonaire,Curacao, Saba, Sint Eustatius, and Sint Maarten

_*_Economy_#_Overview: Tourism, petroleum refining, and offshore finance are themainstays of the economy. The islands enjoy a high per capita income anda well-developed infrastructure compared with other countries in theregion. Unlike many Latin American countries, the Netherlands Antilleshas avoided large international debt. Almost all consumer and capitalgoods are imported, with the US being the major supplier.

_*_Government_#_Long-form name: Territory of New Caledonia and Dependencies

_#_Type: overseas territory of France since 1956

_#_Capital: Noumea

_#_Administrative divisions: none (overseas territory of France);there are no first-order administrative divisions as defined by theUS Government, but there are 3 provinces named Iles Loyaute, Nord,and Sud

_#_Independence: none (overseas territory of France); note--areferendum on independence will be held in 1998, with a review of theissue in 1992

_#_Constitution: 28 September 1958 (French Constitution)

_#_Legal system: the 1988 Matignon Accords grant substantial autonomyto the islands; formerly under French law

_#_Diplomatic representation: as an overseas territory of France,New Caledonian interests are represented in the US by France

_#_Flag: the flag of France is used

_*_Economy_#_Overview: New Caledonia has more than 25% of the world's knownnickel resources. In recent years the economy has suffered because ofdepressed international demand for nickel, the principal source of exportearnings. Only a negligible amount of the land is suitable forcultivation, and food accounts for about 25% of imports.

_#_Constitution: no formal, written constitution; consists of variousdocuments, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments;Constitution Act 1986 was to have come into force 1 January 1987, but hasnot been enacted

_#_Legal system: based on English law, with special land legislationand land courts for Maoris; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, withreservations

_#_Flag: blue with the flag of the UK in the upper hoist-side quadrantwith four red five-pointed stars edged in white centered in the outerhalf of the flag; the stars represent the Southern Cross constellation

_*_Economy_#_Overview: Since 1984 the government has been reorienting anagrarian economy dependent on a guaranteed British market to an openfree market economy that can compete on the global scene. The governmenthas hoped that dynamic growth would boost real incomes, reduceinflationary pressures, and permit the expansion of welfare benefits. Theresults have been mixed: inflation is down from double-digit levelsbut growth has been sluggish and unemployment, always a highly sensitiveissue, has been at a record high 7.4%. In 1988 GDP fell by 1%, in1989 grew by a moderate 2.4%, and was flat in 1990.

_#_Flag: three equal horizontal bands of blue (top), white, and bluewith the national coat of arms centered in the white band; the coat ofarms features a triangle encircled by the words REPUBLICA DENICARAGUA on the top and AMERICA CENTRAL on the bottom; similarto the flag of El Salvador which features a round emblem encircled by thewords REPUBLICA DE EL SALVADOR EN LA AMERICA CENTRAL centered inthe white band; also similar to the flag of Honduras, which has five bluestars arranged in an X pattern centered in the white band

_*_Economy_#_Overview: Government control of the economy historically has beenextensive, although the Chamorro government has pledged to reduce it.The financial system is directly controlled by the state, which alsoregulates wholesale purchasing, production, sales, foreign trade, anddistribution of most goods. Over 50% of the agricultural and industrialfirms are state owned. Sandinista economic policies and the warhave produced a severe economic crisis. The foundation of the economycontinues to be the export of agricultural commodities, largely coffeeand cotton. Farm production fell by roughly 7% in 1989, the fifthsuccessive year of decline. The agricultural sector employs 44%of the work force and accounts for 23% of GDP and 86% of export earnings.Industry, which employs 13% of the work force and contributes about25% to GDP, showed a drop of 7% in 1989 and remains belowpre-1979 levels. External debt is one of the highest in the world on aper capita basis. In 1990 the annual inflation rate was 11,800%, sharplyup from 1,800% in 1989.

_#_Disputes: Libya claims about 19,400 km2 in northern Niger;demarcation of international boundaries in Lake Chad, the lack of whichhas led to border incidents in the past, is completed and awaitingratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, and Nigeria; Burkina and Mali areproceeding with boundary demarcation, including the tripoint with Niger

_#_Political parties and leaders: National Movement for theDevelopment Society (MNSD), leader NA; other political parties nowforming

_#_Suffrage: universal adult at age 18

_#_Elections:

President--last held December 1989 (next to be held NA 1996);results--President Ali SAIBOU was reelected without opposition;

National Assembly--last held 10 December 1989 (next to beheld NA); results--MNSD was the only party;seats--(150 total) MNSD 150 (indirectly elected);note--Niger is to hold a national conference to decide upon atransitional government and an agenda for multiparty elections

_#_Communists: no Communist party; some sympathizers in outlawedSawaba party

_#_Flag: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, andgreen with a small orange disk (representing the sun) centered in thewhite band; similar to the flag of India which has a blue, spoked wheelcentered in the white band

_*_Economy_#_Overview: About 90% of the population is engaged in farming andstock rearing, activities which generate almost half the nationalincome. The economy also depends heavily on exploitation of large uraniumdeposits. Uranium production grew rapidly in the mid-1970s, but taperedoff in the early 1980s, when world prices declined. France is a majorcustomer, while Germany, Japan, and Spain also make regular purchases.The depressed demand for uranium has contributed to an overallsluggishness in the economy, a severe trade imbalance, and a mountingexternal debt.

_#_Disputes: demarcation of international boundaries in LakeChad, the lack of which has led to border incidents in the past, iscompleted and awaiting ratification by Cameroon, Chad, Niger, andNigeria; Nigerian proposals to reopen maritime boundary negotiations andredemarcate the entire land boundary have been rejected by Cameroon

_#_Executive branch: president of the Armed Forces Ruling Council,Armed Forces Ruling Council, National Council of State, Council ofMinisters (cabinet)

_#_Legislative branch: National Assembly was dissolved after themilitary coup of 31 December 1983

_#_Judicial branch: Supreme Court, Federal Court of Appeal

_#_Leaders:

Chief of State and Head of Government--President and Commander inChief of Armed Forces Gen. Ibrahim BABANGIDA (since 27 August 1985)

_#_Political parties and leaders: two political parties established bythe government in 1989--Social Democratic Party (SDP) and NationalRepublican Convention (NRC)

_#_Suffrage: universal at age 21

_#_Elections:

President--scheduled for 1 October 1992;

National Assembly--scheduled for early 1992

_#_Communists: the pro-Communist underground consists of a smallfraction of the Nigerian left; leftist leaders are prominent in thecountry's central labor organization but have little influence on thegovernment

_*_Economy_#_Overview: Although Nigeria is Africa's leading oil-producingcountry, it remains poor with a $280 per capita GDP. In 1990, despiterising oil prices and a sharp drop in inflation, performance remainedslack with continuing underutilization of industrial capacity and asecond year of relatively weak agricultural performance. Agriculturalproduction was up only 4.2% in 1990, still below the 1987 level.Industrial output showed a 7.2% increase, but remained below the 1985level. Government efforts to reduce Nigeria's dependence on oil exportsand to sustain noninflationary growth have fallen short due to inadequatenew investment funds. Living standards continue to deteriorate from thehigher level of the early 1980s oil boom.

_#_Illicit drugs: illicit heroin and some cocaine trafficking;marijuana cultivation for domestic consumption and export; major transitcountry for heroin en route from Southwest Asia via Africa to WesternEurope and the US; growing transit route for cocaine from South Americavia West Africa to Western Europe and the US